Alfred Henry

A retired policeman from Hessett, near Bury St Edmunds, has avoided prison after admitting to downloading and possessing a large number of indecent images of children. Alfred Henry, aged 77, who served 30 years with Essex Constabulary, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving an animal.

The court heard that police discovered 526 indecent photographs on Henry's computer, with an additional 282 images printed on paper. The images primarily depicted girls aged seven and upwards, categorised on a scale of one to five for severity, with 379 at level one, 78 at level two, 178 at level three, 171 at level four, and two at the most serious level five. Prosecutor Robert Sadd outlined the grim details during the hearing.

Judge David Goodin sentenced Henry to a three-year community order, determining that a custodial sentence was not necessary in the circumstances. Addressing Henry directly, the judge stated: "These aren’t victimless offences. Looking at these images on a computer feeds the demand for children to be subjected to that sort of humiliation and cruelty." He further remarked: "For a man of your background and hitherto impeccable character something must have happened to you or to your life to cause you to stray into this sort of area." As part of the order, Henry was required to attend an internet sex offenders’ programme and must sign on to the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Defence counsel Andrew Shaw spoke of Henry's remorse, explaining that the behaviour began in 2011 out of 'inquisitiveness' and developed into a habit. Shaw noted Henry's personal tragedies, including the deaths of his first wife and son, and revealed that following his arrest in the previous year, Henry had attempted an overdose. The case was reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, highlighting the shame brought upon a former officer's career.